Units are 1 bedroom with clean, well-maintained kitchens. Community is pet-friendly on a case-by-case basis and offers short term leases. Located close to the Houston Zoo and Children's Museum of Houston.

Excellent location in the Second Ward, close to Flamingo Food Market and Suko's Burger House. The house offers off-street parking and forced air heating. Units feature range, oven, refrigerator, and tile floor.

This moderately sized community offers larger apartments. Many have been upgraded with new paint and fixtures, and have spacious interiors.. On-site grill area and outdoor deck. Within a short drive to area freeways.

Locate close to Houston Community College and I-69. Residents enjoy 24-hour laundry, 24-hour maintenance, and courtyard. Units include air conditioning, dishwasher, oven and range, and garbage disposal.

Renovated property features 24-hour laundry, courtyard, parking and close proximity to restaurants, shops and entertainment. Units have stainless steel appliances, air conditioning and full size bathtubs.

When then-President of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston incorporated the City of Houston in 1837, the prevailing industry was railroad construction. A lot has changed since then, but the city’s passion for modes of transportation has not (think NASA and oil tycoons). Too bad a mass transit system consistently fails to inspire our local legislators... So whether you travel via steam engine or shuttle rocket, you’re going to need somewhere to park your vessel in this city of over two million. It doesn’t take a regular Space Camp attendee to find a great apartment in Houston, but we hope this guide furnishes some enlightenment for your odyssey. Happy hunting!

Having trouble with Craigslist Houston? Can't find that special apartment for rent on Apartment Finder or Apartment Guide? Apartment List is here to help!

Garage Parking: Summers in Houston are consistently scorching. (This is Big Sky country, after all.) Regardless of what your car seats are made of—leather, cloth, old basketballs signed by Hakeem Olajuwon and the 1995 Rockets—you don’t want to traverse the gates of hell every time you need to drive somewhere. Seeking out that apartment complex with garage parking may save you this minor discomfort and only cost a $50/month more. However, if you can't get garage parking a lot of communities also offer covered parking for no additional charge.

The Pool Scene: Houston is HOT, HOT, HOT. But don't worry, many of the apartments have invested in ways to help their residents stay cool or at least have fun in the heat. Pools at these apartments look more like resort pools than your local YMCA. You'll find many that have invested in infinity pools and pools with built in lounge chairs (in the water!) or zero entry edges. Make sure to grab your towel and flip-flops.

Inside the Loop

Houstonians who live inside the 610 Loop (“ITL” for your keyword searching convenience), which forms the inner web of commerce including Downtown, the Heights, the area around Rice University, and other such historic neighborhoods, can be notoriously arrogant. In a city where most of the population owns a personal vehicle, this provincialism can seem ridiculous. OTLers (those “outside the Loop”) consistently doubt the existence of good reasons to travel inside 610, claiming their lives are less stressful and just as exciting as ITLers. But there are good reasons to consider living ITL. Namely:

Proximity to Downtown, accessible from most points ITL via the newly constructed METRORail.

Memorial Park, the largest urban greenspace in the Houston Metro area, containing a golf course, tennis courts, an aquatics center, and miles of running trails.

H.E.B. Central Market on Westheimer is the Mecca for Houston foodies. Sample new cheeses, pick out a specialty wine, and gain access to some of the best local produce at this Midtown gem.

Pet Friendliness, access to the outdoors in side the loop is a little more limited than outside the loop. The savvy apartment communities know renters love their pets and have invested in dog parks and even in building dog washes to attract the pet friendly apartment searcher.

Alright, enough sidestepping. Let’s get to the neighborhoods!

Downtown: Downtown Houston feels extremely corporate and business-like. If you aren’t comfortable seeing oil tycoons in suits hobnob it at Starbucks all day, then this might not be the district for you. Downtown also shuts down around 10pm—there aren’t too many late night or 24-hour spots for you party animals. If you want nightlife, you’ll have to head west to Midtown or Washington. That said, the area affectionately known as EaDo (“East Downtown”) has some wonderful surprises, including some of the best Chinese buffets in town… $550/month for an historic one-bedroom in EaDo. Compare that with studio lofts in the CBD: upwards of $1000/month!

The Eastern Wards: Residential development originally sprawled westward out from Downtown, the originally professional class settling in the Fourth Ward and leaving points east to industrial and shipping uses. That’s not to say there aren’t some decent neighborhoods: University of Houston sits smack in the middle of the Third Ward, which ensures some measure of stability. Don’t pay much over $600/month (utilities included) for a modest-sized two-bedroom condo near U of H. Checking out the Orange Show on Munger St. is a must.

Midtown: Running west out from Downtown, this is the “it” area for young, artsy, professionals. Seedy Montrose is LGBT-friendly, West Alabama has the historic Angelika Theatre, and Washington Ave. is the new (moneyed) hipster location. This neighborhood still has that urban, commercial feel, but it’s that of a smaller city. Most folks who live here rarely find it necessary to head east of the Gulf Freeway. Seriously, all the culture and amenities one needs can be found on Westheimer St. Don’t go too far past Shepherd or you’ll land in River Oaks, one of the oldest in richest communities in the U.S. (Translation: “apartments” in this neighborhood are where the au pairs live.) Luxury apartments and lofts on Washington go for around $1000/month and typically come with hardwood floors and in-unit washer and dryers, two bedrooms start at $1500/month. Head south for more reasonable rates: $700-$800/month for one-bedrooms (Jacuzzi included?!) off Montrose.

The Heights: A wonderfully diverse and historic neighborhood (master-planned in 1891, it features Victorian mansions alongside quaint single-family homes), the Heights enjoys great access to major freeways: I-10, which will take you into the CBD or west to Katy; and I-45, which will take you north to the airport or the Woodlands. Professional folks who can’t afford to live in Midtown plus young families give the Heights a laid-back feel. Nicer one-bedroom apartments will top out at $1000/month. Look for a two- or three-bedroom Victorian and you’ll save $200-$300/month per head.

West University: Named for Rice University’s majestic presence, this area boasts an impressive number of museums (concentrated in the aptly named “Museum District”), Hermann Park (the only real rival to Memorial Park), and the Houston Zoo. The driftwood-framed Ginger Man in Rice Village shopping center is arguably the best beer bar in town. Two-bedroom apartments with hardwood floors run $1300/month and up; a little more than half that for only one bedroom. Expect covered parking in this neighborhood. (But if not, don’t fret: there are so many trees you’ll be fine on the street.)

Between 610 and the Beltway: The graphically tubular zone between the Loop and Beltway 8 (also called the Sam Houston Tollway) is the first legitimately “suburban” area after one leaves central Houston. These communities are oftentimes still historic—picture wide, oak-lined streets and large porches—but more spread out. The sacrifice one makes in moving OTL is that city feel: there are definitely highly-trafficked commercial districts (the Galleria in Woodway is a prime example), but they’re more likely to be massive malls amidst a moat of parking possibilities than ye olde main street. Here are a few neighborhoods OTL you’d best be acquainted with.

Bellaire: Just outside the southwest corner of the Loop, Bellaire lives up to its California namesake. The Galleria shopping center (poodles, Versace, etc.) perches just north of Hwy. 59, South Rice Ave. linking it to Bellaire Blvd. (Wait, what??!)$700-$800/month for one-bedrooms, higher if you’d like to be closer to the Medical Center in case of an emergency.

Memorial: As you travel west along I-10, the communities on either side of the freeway are broken up into independent incorporated “villages”: Bunker Hill, Piney Point, Hunter’s Creek, Hedwig. The Houston Country Club imparts an appropriate aura to this region. It’s where the “good ol’ boys” reside. $450-$600/month for efficiency one-bedrooms, higher for luxury apartments closer to the Galleria.

Aldine: A good choice if you’re going to be spending most of your weekends (or weekdays, for that matter) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which stretches north of the Beltway but is easily accessed from Aldine. This very inexpensive area (you get what you pay for, remember) offers one-bedrooms for $500/month max. Add $100/month for another room.

Hating on Houston was so 2005. Tell all your poser friends to get real and leave Austin for the Bayou City next weekend—cause you’re about to land one heck of a Houston habitat.

February 2019 Houston Rent Report

Welcome to the February 2019 Houston Rent Report. Houston rents declined over the past month. In this report, we'll evaluate trends in the Houston rental market, including comparisons to cities throughout the metro, state, and nation.

February 2019 Houston Rent Report

Welcome to the February 2019 Houston Rent Report. Houston rents declined over the past month. In this report, we'll evaluate trends in the Houston rental market, including comparisons to cities throughout the metro, state, and nation.

Houston rents declined moderately over the past month

Houston rents have declined 0.3% over the past month, but have been relatively flat in comparison to the same time last year. Currently, median rents in Houston stand at $840 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,020 for a two-bedroom. Houston's year-over-year rent growth lags the state average of 1.3%, as well as the national average of 1.0%.

Rents rising across the Houston Metro

While rents have remained steady in the city of Houston throughout the past year, cities across the metro have seen a different trend. Rents have risen in 8 of of the largest 10 cities in the Houston metro for which we have data. Here's a look at how rents compare across some of the largest cities in the metro.

Pasadena has the least expensive rents in the Houston metro, with a two-bedroom median of $990; the city has also experienced the fastest rent growth in the metro, with a year-over-year increase of 2.3%.

Over the past year, Pearland has seen the biggest rent drop in the metro, with a decline of 1.9%. Median two-bedrooms there cost $1,320, while one-bedrooms go for $1,080.

Sugar Land has the most expensive rents of the largest cities in the Houston metro, with a two-bedroom median of $1,570; rents were up 0.1% over the past month but remained flat year-over-year.

Houston rents more affordable than many comparable cities nationwide

Rent growth in Houston has been relatively stable over the past year - some other large cities have seen more substantial increases. Houston is still more affordable than most similar cities across the country.

Other cities across the state have seen rents slightly increase, with Texas as a whole logging rent growth of 1.3% over the past year. For example, rents have grown by 3.3% in Austin, 2.1% in San Antonio, and 1.4% in Dallas.

Houston's median two-bedroom rent of $1,020 is below the national average of $1,170. Nationwide, rents have grown by 1.0% over the past year compared to the stagnant growth in Houston.

While rents in Houston remained moderately stable this year, similar cities saw increases, including Phoenix (+3.6%), San Francisco (+2.7%), and New York (+2.4%); note that median 2BR rents in these cities go for $1,060, $3,090, and $2,520 respectively.

Renters will find more reasonable prices in Houston than most other large cities. For example, San Francisco has a median 2BR rent of $3,090, which is more than three times the price in Houston.

For more information check out our national report. You can also access our full data for cities and counties across the U.S. at this link.

City

Median 1BR price

Median 2BR price

M/M price change

Y/Y price change

Houston

$840

$1,020

-0.3%

0

Pasadena

$810

$990

0.3%

2.3%

Pearland

$1,080

$1,320

-0.3%

-1.9%

League City

$1,220

$1,490

0

0.3%

Sugar Land

$1,280

$1,570

0.1%

0.3%

Baytown

$860

$1,060

-0.1%

1.3%

Missouri City

$1,150

$1,410

0

-1.5%

Conroe

$870

$1,070

-0.2%

0.5%

Spring

$1,110

$1,350

-0.3%

1.2%

Texas City

$880

$1,070

0.6%

1.9%

Friendswood

$1,080

$1,320

-0.1%

-5.1%

Stafford

$1,010

$1,230

0.5%

1.1%

Humble

$1,040

$1,270

0

1.5%

Richmond

$1,000

$1,220

-0.6%

-0.5%

Tomball

$970

$1,190

0

1.5%

Webster

$1,000

$1,220

-0.6%

-0.9%

Magnolia

$950

$1,160

-0.6%

2.3%

See More

Methodology - Recent Updates:

Data from private listing sites, including our own, tends to skew toward luxury apartments, which introduces sample bias when estimates are calculated directly from these listings. To address these limitations, we’ve recently made major updates to our methodology, which we believe have greatly improved the accuracy and reliability of our estimates.

Read more about our new methodology below, or see a more detailed post here.

Methodology:

Apartment List is committed to making our rent estimates the best and most accurate available. To do this, we start with reliable median rent statistics from the Census Bureau, then extrapolate them forward to the current month using a growth rate calculated from our listing data. In doing so, we use a same-unit analysis similar to Case-Shiller’s approach, comparing only units that are available across both time periods to provide an accurate picture of rent growth in cities across the country.

Our approach corrects for the sample bias inherent in other private sources, producing results that are much closer to statistics published by the Census Bureau and HUD. Our methodology also allows us to construct a picture of rent growth over an extended period of time, with estimates that are updated each month.

About Rent Reports:

Apartment List publishes monthly reports on rental trends for hundreds of cities across the U.S. We intend these reports to be a source of reliable information that help renters and policymakers make sound decisions, and we invest significant time and effort in gathering and analyzing rent data. Our work is covered regularly by journalists across the country.

We are continuously working to improve our methodology and data, with the goal of providing renters with the information that they need to make the best decisions.

Renter Confidence Survey

Apartment List has released Houston’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters nationwide, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the country’s 111 million renters.

"Houston renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List...

Apartment List has released Houston’s results from the third annual Apartment List Renter Satisfaction Survey. This survey, which drew on responses from over 45,000 renters nationwide, provides insight on what states and cities must do to meet the needs of the country’s 111 million renters.

"Houston renters expressed general satisfaction with the city overall," according to Apartment List. "They gave most categories above average scores."

Key Findings in Houston include the following:

Houston renters gave their city a B+ overall.

The highest-rated categories for Houston were affordability and state and local taxes, which both received A grades.

The areas of concern to Houston renters are weather (C) and public transit (B-).

Millennial renters are very satisfied with their city, giving it an overall rating of B+, while renters who are parents are equally satisfied, also scoring the city a B+.

Houston earned similar scores compared to other cities in Texas, including Austin (A-), Dallas (B) and San Antonio (A-).

Houston did relatively well compared to similar cities nationwide, including Los Angeles (C+), Atlanta (B) and Miami (C+).

"Houston is a great place to live! It’s family oriented but also has a booming nightlife that caters to all Houstonians. The traffic, at times, can be a headache, but there is always opportunity for either public transportation or expressways to get around the city." -Jessica

"Houston is a nice place to live. There are a lot of opportunities and it’s a great place if you are looking for a change. Transportation ins’t great if you don’t have a car." -Anon.

"I love the city because it’s very diverse; so many cultures mix in one place. But I hate that the weather is extremely hot!" -Mauricio

"Houston has good growth, great food, and a short winter." -Joe H.

For more information on the survey methodology and findings or to speak to one of our researchers, please contact our team at rentonomics@apartmentlist.com.